Clothes drier reel



Jan. 3, 1933.

J. C. MICHAUD CLOTHES DRIER REEL Filed Sept. 11, 1950 INVENTOR, r/firz 6. Hie/laud;

A TTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 3, 1933 UNITED STATES JOHN C. MICHAUD, OF WEST SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS CLOTHES DRIER REEL Application filed September 11, 1930. Serial No. 481,194.

My invention relates to improvements in cloth drying reels.

An object of my invention is to provide a light weight, portable clothes reel, adaptable for use either indoors or outdoors.

A further object, is to provide a clothes reel with disappearing-arms and foldable supporting legs which are attached to the supporting member, thus adding to its convenience in handling and shipping.

Other objects will appear in the specifications and claims.

Broadly, my invention consists of a clothes reel comprising a plurality of separately movable arms that are radially supported in horizontal positions, when in use, and capable of being raised into a vertical position and lowered into an enclosing cylinder or casing which is revolvably supported on a central post, said post being in turn supported by a plurality of collapsible or folding le s.

is constructed, the reel, in its collapsed position, occupies a very small space, defined by the length of t 1e central post and the diameter of the arm-enclosing cylinder or casing member.

Y A preferred form of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is an elevational view of the clothes drying reel in its collapsed position, as to the arms and legs.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the collapsible supporting legs in their supporting position and several of the arms in position ready for use.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view on an enlarged scale showing in detail the arm enclosing cylinder and arm supporting cap memher.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the cap, and

Fig. 5 is a detail of the folding legs in their collapsed position.

Referring to the drawing in detail in which like numerals refer to like parts throughout:

A central post 1, preferably circular in section, is formed with a square base portion 2 at its lower end to which the links 3 and 4 are pivotally secured by means of the screws 5. Washers 6 are inserted between the links 3 and 4 and the base in order to provide for freedom of movement in opening and closing the same. The legs 7 are pivotally secured to the links 3 and 4 with the rivets 8 and 9 respectively. Lugs 10 on the legs 7 engage the notches 11 in the links 3 when the legs are in their supporting positions, thereby providing a strong, rigid and stiff joint.

foot piece 12 is formed with a ball portion 13 that is secured to the end of each of the legs 7, which permits the reel to be easily moved on the floor. A hollow cylinder, or casing member, 14, is secured to the bottom plate 15 and cap plate 16, forms a storage space 17 for the arms 18 therein, when the latter are not in use. The bottom plate 15, which is formed with an opening 15' provides for a. loose fit on the post 1 and forms a support for the ends 19 of the arms 18 when they are dropped into the space 17. The cap plate 16 is rotatably secured to the upper end of the post with the screw 16' and is formed with the pocket, or recess, 20, which fits over the upper end 21 of the post 1, thereby forn1- ing a support for the cylinder 14, and at the same time, allowing the cylinder 14 and cap plate 16 to revolve with reference to the post 1. Radial openings 22 in the cap plate 16 serve to guide and support the arms 18 in either of their vertical or horizontal positions. The openings 22 are formed with the shoulders 23 and 24, which form a strong, substantial bearing for top and bottom edges, respectively, of the arm 18.

Reinforcing ribs 25, between the openings 22, form a stop for the pin 26, near the outer end 19 of the arms 18, thereby, preventing the arms 18 from being pulled entirely out of the cylinder 14, when in their horizontal positions. The post 1 is formed with a curved or hollowed-out portion shown at 27, to allow clearance space for the swing of the ends 19 of arms 18 from horizontal to vertical posi tion, or vice versa. The screw 16 secures the cap 16 to the post 1. By moving this screw, the cylinder and arms may be removed from the post 1. This construction provides for a quick and easy replacement in the event the post should be broken.

In operatiorn one or more, or all, of the armshl8, may be used for supporting the clothes or garments. The reel may be set in freely travel from its horizontal to a vertical 7 the open, using all the arms. The revolving cylinder prevents undue strain from wind loads. The reel may be set up inside, :adja cent a radiator, over a registen or against a wall, using half the arms, or, by collapsing one leg, it may be placed in a corner of a.

room, thus occupying very little space.

What I claim'isz" 1 1. In combination, in a clothes drying reel.

a supporting post member, a plate revolubly supported on the post, a cap member formed withradially arranged rectangular openings and rotatably secured to the upper end of the post, acasing; secured to the cap and plate,

arm members rectangular in cross section located in the openings of thecap, said openings serving to permit the arm members to be moved into a vertical position for storage in. the casing with inner ends resting on the a "plate, or to be withdrawn from the casing and supported in horizontal posltions, said post being formed with a recessed portion to provide clearance for the ends of the arm members, the cap member having shoulders above and below said openings, against which the upper inner end surface and the lower inner end surface of the arms engage to support'the same in a horizontal position, as described.

2. In combination in a clothes drying reel, a'supporting post member, a plate revolubly supportedon the post,a cap member formed with radially arranged openings and rotatably secured tothe upper end of the post, a

casing secured to the cap and plate, arm a members located in the openings of the cap, I

said openings serving to permit the arm members to be moved into a vertical position for storage in the casing with their inner ends resting on the plate, or to be withdrawn from the casing and supported in horizontal positions, the cap member having shoulders aboveand below the openings, against which the upper inner end surface and the lower inner endsurface'of the arm engages to support the same in a horizontal position and the post member having a curved cut-out portion to permit the inner end of an arm to position, into "and out of the casing, and

means on the arm to prevent its being withdrawnfrom the cap member, when in its horizontal pos1t10n. i

JoriN MICHAUD. 

